How much does it cost to rent in Wauwatosa, WI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Wauwatosa, WI is $1,722. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Wauwatosa cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Wauwatosa is one of the pricier cities in Wisconsin, ranking #12 out of 62 cities tracked at $1,722/mo.

When was Wauwatosa rent data last updated?

Wauwatosa rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WI

Wauwatosa

Name: Average Rent Prices in Wauwatosa, WI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 48,529·12th most expensive in Wisconsin·Wauwatosa rents are up 7.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,722/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.7%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

-$243

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Wauwatosa · $1,722

More affordable than 59% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Wauwatosa's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,722/mo

Expected by trend

$1,742/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Wauwatosa's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,035

1 BR

$1,165

2 BR

$1,390

3 BR

$1,725

4 BR+

$1,880

Research median

$1,390/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,664/yr

At $1,722/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.7% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Wauwatosa, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 64% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

48,529

Median income

$101,138

Median age

38.4

Renters

39.2%

Age distribution

20.9%

22.7%

27.9%

17.8%

Under 1820.9%

18–3422.7%

35–5427.9%

55–6410.7%

65+17.8%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

79.5%

White79.5%

Black7.4%

Hispanic5%

Asian4.6%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

12.8%

21.4%

64%

No HS diploma1.8%

HS diploma12.8%

Some college21.4%

Bachelor's+64%

Housing tenure

60.8%

39.2%

Owner60.8%

Renter39.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Wauwatosa, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,273 → $1,722

up 35.3%

Income

$90,420 → $101,138

up 11.9%

Population

48,072 → 48,529

up 1.0%

Renter share

36.6% → 39.2%

+2.6 pts

Bachelor's+

60.6% → 64%

+3.4 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Wauwatosa, WI has increased by $449 per month, settling near $1,722 after starting the period at $1,273. Household income in the area moved from $90,420 to $101,138 across the same window, up 11.9% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 23.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 48,072 to 48,529 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.0% change. About 39.2% of households rent today, against 36.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 60.6% to 64%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Wauwatosa, WI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Wauwatosa

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View Wauwatosa rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Wauwatosa on your salary?

At $1,722/mo, how Wauwatosa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $89,756/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,726/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $73,407/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $131,205/yr · Rent = 15.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $167,647/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,670/yr · Rent = 34.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,875/yr · Rent = 38.4% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $66,405/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Wauwatosa rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Wauwatosa. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Wauwatosa

About renting in Wauwatosa, WI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Wauwatosa is $1,722/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,035/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,165/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,725/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($101,138/yr), Wauwatosa ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Wauwatosa an affordable city for renters?

Wauwatosa is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,722/mo, rent takes approximately 20% of the local median household income ($101,138/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Wauwatosa falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Wauwatosa?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $69,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,722/mo in Wauwatosa. The local median household income is $101,138/yr, meaning the typical Wauwatosa household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Wauwatosa?

Rent in Wauwatosa has increased 7.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Wauwatosa neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Wauwatosa are 53226 ($1,670/mo), and 53213 ($1,778/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Wauwatosa is $1,722/mo.

How does Wauwatosa rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Wauwatosa is one of the pricier cities in Wisconsin for rent, ranking #12 out of 62 tracked cities at $1,722/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wauwatosa?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Wauwatosa ($1,722/mo): West Allis ($1,372/mo), Greenfield ($1,425/mo), Milwaukee ($1,469/mo).

What percentage of Wauwatosa residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.2% of Wauwatosa households are renters, while 60.8% are owner-occupied. Wauwatosa leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Wauwatosa rent compare to the national average?

Wauwatosa's median rent of $1,722/mo is $243 (12%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #12 out of 62 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

20%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,722/mo, rent takes ~20% of Wauwatosa's median household income ($101,138/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Wauwatosa 20%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.5–7.65%

Run the Wauwatosa affordability calculator →

Nearby cities